time of his arrival with the severest commercial distress, would have been one of overwhelming an he had not had the good fortune to be assisted by a Bar who united with the high and honourable feelings of gentlemen, learning, industry, and ability in the discharge of their professional duties." It was not to be supposed that the Melbournians could permit a gentleman who had so endeared himself to them to leave without a parting demonstration of respect, and this assumed the form of a public dinner, at the Royal Hotel, on the evening of the 6th February, when some one hundred andfiftypersons were present. The Mayor (Mr. Henry Moor) officiated as chairman. His Honor the Superintendent was there, and everything went on " merry as a marriage bell " until the toast of " the Press " was given, whereupon there ensued "a scene" positively disgraceful. The Stewards had assigned the response to Mr. Cavenagh, the editor of the Herald, and when he was called on, the rival editors (Messrs. Kerr, of the Patriot, and M'Combie, of the Gazette) jumped up simultaneously, and loudly and vehemently objected. They were repeatedly called to order, but persisted in their disorder, until, after much persuasion, M'Combie sat down, or, rather, was pulled into his chair ; but Kerr would not give way. For nearly half-an-hour he stood, vociferating, " I'll not be put down," and clamorously insisting upon a hearing. After a lengthy interlude of indescribable confusion, the chairman, with much difficulty, succeeded in getting the disturber audience ; but thefirstsentence uttered conveyed a reflection upon some judicial decision of the guest in whose honour they had assembled, and this brought on an increased renewal of the uproar. The Superintendent and the ex-Judge contrived to slip away during the melee, and Kerr, upon discovering their flight, turned on the Mayor, whom he charged with drunkenness. The shindy was thus intensified, and so continued for another half-hour, when Kerr was ejected from the room. The plea subsequently set up for him by some of his friends was intoxication, which was indignantly denied by others on his behalf. Mr. Kerr was an Alderman of Melbourne at the time. On the nth February, a public meeting was held, at which a committee was appointed to prepare a valedictory address to the late Judge. This was done, and the document, subscribed by 1118 signatures, was presented to him by a deputation of some of the principal residents. It was of a highly complimentary character, and was suitably and feelingly replied to. Mr. Jeffcott left Port Phillip on 21st February, 1845, in the " Royal George," for England. He was accompanied to the wharf by the Superintendent, the members of the Bar, the principal Government officers, and a number of settlers, merchants, and shopkeepers. He carried with him the good wishes of the community. On arriving in Ireland, he resumed practice at the Dublin Bar, and so remained until December, 1849, when he was appointed Recorder of Pulo-Penang, and Chief Justice of Criminal Judicature for that island and Singapore. A Knighthood was also conferred on him, and in a few years after he died. THE THIRD RESIDENT JUDGE
Of Port Phillip was Mr. Roger Therry, the only Roman Catholic who has as yet sat upon the Supreme Court Bench in Victoria. Pie was born on the 22nd April, 1800, was called to the Irish Bar in 1824, and was a personal friend of the great Irish lawyer and politician, Daniel O'Connell. Though wanting the legal ability of Willis, and the independence and strength of character of Jeffcott, he possessed a fair share of tact and good temper, and had acquired considerable official experience. Arriving in New South Wales in 1829, as Commissioner of the Court of Requests, hefilledthat office for eleven years, and had acted as Attorney-General during a two years' absence of Mr. J. H. Plunket. He represented the County of Camden for some time in the Legislative Council of New South Wales, and when nominated to the Port Phillip Judgeship, was in his forty-fourth year. Prior to his arrival, it was stated in the Patriot that he had been appointed by Governor Sir George Gipps without the concurrence of his Executive Council, by reason of Dr. Broughton, the Episcopalian Bishop of Sydney's declaration that he would never consent to place a Roman Catholic on the Bench. (Bishop Broughton was a member of the Executive at the time.) This was contradicted by the Sydney Herald, for the appointment could not have been made outside the Council. Mr. Therry presided for thefirsttime in the Supreme Court on the 8th February, 1845. As a New South Wales politician, Mr. Therry was not a favourite. He was a "trimmer," and ever anxious to stand well with the Government; but it would be difficult tofinda more patient, painstaking or conscientious
